STRASBOURG. Oct 11 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has refused to see the Crimea situation as a fait accompli.
"I strongly reject the assertions of those who talk about Crimea as a done deal," Poroshenko said at a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The purpose of the PACE platform is not to appeal for peace, or "for trading one's territory for money, oil, or gas," Poroshenko said. "This platform has been created to defend our foundations, our values, and our principles and, most importantly, to protect them as need be. There is such a need now," he said.
As he was answering questions from PACE deputies, Poroshenko said that "Crimea should be returned to Ukraine," adding, "We do not buy or sell Crimea. This is not about money, oil, gas, or other valuables. This is about peace and freedom in Europe, and security in Europe and the whole world," he said.
A referendum in Crimea may be held only after the peninsula returns to Ukraine, Poroshenko said. "I am ready for everything that meets the norms of the Ukrainian constitution. Our constitution has norms related to referenda, both local and national. Territorial sovereignty is a matter for a national referendum. But before we discuss this, Ukraine should restore its sovereignty over Crimea, and we will be ready for any negotiations after that [...] in accordance with the norms of the current Ukrainian constitution," Poroshenko said.
"A referendum cannot be held under the barrels of Russian tanks. This is not a referendum; it has nothing to do with democracy," Poroshenko said.
Czech President Milos Zeman proposed earlier this week at the PACE conference that Ukraine should be reimbursed for Crimea. He acknowledged that the "annexation" of Crimea was not legal but said it is a settled matter.